Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-17

washington desircS two things from Congress
In reference 70 the public school=,-1rst, provision
OF full accommodations both for the low grades
and the High school, and, second, q remodeiing Of
the Law to the end that the relations OF the Com
Taissioaers and trustees may be distinctly stated
and present antiquities removed
The recent report Of tho school trustees calls re-
newed attention 10 the wish nrst suggested The
sane fiberality In appropriations for the erection
OF school buildings Is needed now as that shown
at last session The large Increase over last years
figures In the number OF pupils, and the conss-
Quent necessity OF halliday Instruction In the
High school as well as In the low grades furnish
polluted arguments In favor OF O conttauous policy
OF charging school accommodations
The advtsability Of legislation in respect TO the
Status OF the board OF trustees Is indicated BY the
fact that the Commissioners construe the present
law 10 give them full authority In school matters
with orly n limited and subordinate authority In
an advisory board OF trustees, so long as that
board Is permitted TO exist; while number OF
cittzsns contend that the law means, as Is was IN
tended 10 mean by the Congressman who framed
r. taat the old board Is revived with the same
powers it enjoyed before 10 was abolished. The
roundabout procedure OF aoolshing the school
board, transferring It's powers TO the Com
missioners and re-establishing By the same act
scnco, board with the same powers As 70 "the care
and manageneat" OF the schools as those prevt
inference some effect being necessarfly given 10
this eircumlocatory legislation, that the second
board has not precisely the same powers rs the
firse. But In correcting this bungling legislation
Couxress will M the status Of tn school board
without refeicace 10 .he legal effect OF the present
law. The actual intent OF the former legislators
10 re-estabJsh the old board OF citizens with its
foraef powers and the wishes OF the people OF the
city IN the matter may then have weight Public
FAM fpfr oeao mir
except their financial concerns 10 an independent
board OF citizens, method which developed WASH
fngton school system credirably through It's entire
history Until the present controversy under the
organic act, and which IL recognized BY educators
and adopted by cities all over the country as the
bss: form OF school management. The Gesirability
Of removing control OF the schools from the polit-
teal authorities, who are generally absorbed In
pubic matters OF greater interest to them,
and who often neglect the schools where
they do not directly injure them. has
been recognized in school legislation almost
everywhere. Representatives Of the people
OF the different states, assembled In Congress,
VIII naturally adopt for Washington the system
which has commenced itself In their own CON-
munites which Is desired by the people Of this
city, and which has produced good results hero
for more than three-f0urths OF century. There
viii be no reflection upon the present manage
ment Of the schools IN clearly re-estanllshing the
Old powers OF the board OF trustees IL Is said that
the Commissioners are permitting the present
advisory" board TO perform nearly all the func-
lions OF an independent board and the members
OF thlg board are not attacked, either personally
or officially. The powers OF the trustees should,
however. be nSed by Congress. and should not be
flexible, now greater and now less, at the discre-
ton OF the Commissioners, permitting the latter
TO treat the board as mere advisory affair." not
entitled 70 credit when things go we'll and as q
scapegoat for responsibility when bIunders are
committed